G-RISE at Old Dominion University

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G-RISE at Old Dominion University Project Summary/Abstract Old Dominion University (ODU) is a research-active, urban-based university located in the Hampton Roads region of Southeastern Virginia. It enrolls 24,176 students (19,372 undergraduate and 4,804 graduate students) with approximately 33% from underrepresented minority (URM) groups and 56% females. This project will implement the NIH/NIGMS Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) program at ODU to support graduate research training of 20 NIH-supported and 4 ODU-supported Ph.D. students over a five-year grant period. The overarching goal is to prepare underrepresented (UR) groups to enter and succeed in the biomedical research workforce. The objectives are to recruit, retain, and train a diverse pool of UR students in fields of biomedical research through research experiences, mentoring, and educational and career development activities. The expected outcomes are 80% trainee 5-year time-to-degree and 100% placement into post-doctoral research studies and/or employment in biomedical research related occupations. The G-RISE at ODU program will be built on existing and successful UR undergraduate education programs at ODU. It will maximize access to research careers in biomedical research for UR students through ODU partnerships with the Virginia Bio consortium (+ 270 bioscience firms) and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The program will commence with a structured and intensive mandatory six-week summer doctoral bridge and will continue into the academic years with academically challenging coursework, year around research experiences, intellectual development, mentorship, and advising. In addition to scholarship support, the program will provide career development activities and strong programmatic values to create an environment that promotes and nurtures UR student success. The designated PI/PD of the G-RISE at ODU program is a tenured URM female faculty member in Electrical Engineering and the Executive Director of the ODU Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics. She has trained over 60 students (59% African American, 35% women), one of whom is a Rhodes Scholar (African American female). The designated Co-PI/PD is a tenured URM male faculty member in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the PI/PD of the current NIH MARC program at ODU. He has trained over 120 students (92% African American, 90% women). They will guide the G-RISE at ODU program design as well as serve as role models for the UR doctoral students.